Chef Pasquale
Before there was Emeril, there was Pasquale, a robust, animated soul who, instead of screaming "Bam!," breaks into song as a side dish to his cooking. For Pasquale Carpino, host of Today's Cooking with Chef Pasquale, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m., ONtv, his rise to culinary fame is a classic story of rags to riches. He arrived in Canada from his native Italy with just $8 in his pocket in 1958.
He was already cooking before he arrived in this country, though not formally trained at any cooking school. He was trained by the most ardent of gourmets, an Italian family,
as well in a hotel kitchen in the province of Cosenza. His first job upon arrival in his new country was at Old Angelo's in Toronto. After just two weeks as dishwasher, he was promoted to cook, and then six week later, he took over saucier (an expert in sauce, not something risqué) duties. Gigs at upscale restaurants such as La Scala and those in the Waldorf-Astoria and the King Edward
Hotel followed.
While a dishwasher, he studied opera at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Fans of his TV shows know that Pasquale is an avid singer. Merely chopping up garlic or stirring risotto inspires him to start singing a rousing chorus of O Solo Mio or any number of Italian songs he has learned. Soon, he became known as the "Singing Chef." Now, it seems that as many viewers tune in for his cooking skills as his operatic prowess.
Pasquale's cooking philosophy is simple. After nearly 500 shows broadcast in over 20 countries and a number of cookbooks later, Pasquale, the chef, the author, the TV star and the tenor, has figured it out. "The best recipe in the world is to eat what we have, eat what we like, and be able to share it with our loved ones," he says. For him, food is his passion and his life.
-- Michele Sponagle
My TV
Graham Greene
Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic
Science, Discovery Channel
"My favourite shows are mostly educational, like This Old House, This New House, Two Fat Ladies, Barney, and Bill Nye, the Science Guy. The reason I watch these shows is because it gives me ample time to stare out the window at the lawn I should have mowed two weeks ago.
"I watch a lot of films, usually the ones where you can leave to go make a sandwich or mow the lawn and when you come back the plot hasn't advanced a whole lot.
"I rarely watch shows with the family because I have my own big-screen TV in the office that nobody is allowed to touch. But mostly we leave the viewing choices to our five cats because they are forever walking on the channel changers and the satellite controller in their quest for cat treats."gT